Soil Improvement

[mjtlhunter]

This spring I will be planting my first food plots. In some of the areas I plan to plant the area was cleared by bull dozer, all the top soil removed and only clay remains. After having my soil tests done, liming and fertilizing according what should I plant to improve my soil quality ASAP. I don't know how well any of the premium clover blends would grow and think I need to settle for cheaper seeds until my soil quality improves. Any suggestions?

[Thayer.qdma]

Some clover and other legumes are soil fixers, vetch is another good one for fixing soil. Check your local feed store and you can usually get clover for about 3.00/lb for a decent clover. Ladino is very good for a drought area. If you have the means, you can get your fertilizer and lime down now and three months later(from what I've read) it's ready to go and your soil should be substantially better. That would give your May plantings a good shot. Now if I could my new plot acid level where it needs to be!!smileys/smiley5.gif

[dogdoc]

i have a plot that was an old oil drilling area---it was cleared with a dozer and is mostly clay. did my soil test and applied the needed fertilizer and lime. I have planted the following with great results--cowpeas, vetch, brassicas, wheat, rye, oats, and trefoil. I have had good but not great results with clovers and alfalfa.

The iron and clay cowpeas did the best in growth and palability with deer. The are a legume and will fix the soil so that might be a good start this spring---just need to have a large enough plot b/c they tend to get overbrowsed in areas with high deer numbers.

good luck
todd